Utility Belt

ABSTRACT

A utility belt with a waist-belt having at least one holder operably coupled thereto for holding accessories. A first holder includes a bottom portion extending between a front portion and a back portion. The back portion is coupled to the waist-belt such that an accessory is secured on the bottom portion between the front and back portions. A second holder includes a pair of outer flanges and an inner flange therebetween. The inner flange forms an opening for securing an accessory therein. A third holder includes a back portion, a top portion, a holding rod and a locking rod. The locking rod is extended through apertures located on the top portion and holding rod to secure an accessory on the holding rod. A fourth holder includes a base and at least one pocket coupled thereto. The at least one pocket is formed on the base to hold accessories therein.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of utility belts, inparticular, to a utility belt with attachments for securing accessoriesand materials for use in various types of work including constructionwork.

BACKGROUND

Utility belts aid in securely holding objects conveniently on theperson. They give the user easy access to objects without tying up thehands of the user. They are particularly useful when the user is in alocation where space for tools is limited such as on a ladder. They alsomake it easier to transport objects.

One application of a utility belt, for example, is for aiding infinishing drywall. When finishing drywall, a user typically needs jointtape to cover joints on the drywall, a mud pan to hold the mud appliedover the joint tape and other parts of the drywall, and taping knives ofvarying sizes to apply the mud to the drywall. These materials can bevery heavy and difficult to hold for prolonged periods and impossible tohold with two hands while working.

Currently, various utility belts with shoulder straps exist to addcomfort when carrying heavy equipment. However, they are not gearedtowards specific applications such as drywall finishing which hasparticular needs.

Some attachments exist to hold drywall finishing equipment towaist-belts. In one example, as shown athttp://www.advance-equipment.com/Advance-Mud-Pan-and-Tape-Holder.php, amud pan holder having two hooks for removably attaching to a belt isshown. The mud pan holder further includes a tape holder extendingdownward from the mud pan holder.

One problem with this type of holder is that the mud pan is simply heldby two forward extending hooks or arms which do not secure the mud panfrom sliding off.

Another problem with the mud pan holder of the prior art described aboveis that the joint tape dispenser extends down a long distance, makingmobility and storage difficult, in addition to increased weight andmanufacturing costs. The length is necessary in these existingattachments because of the method of securing the joint tape to thedispenser. That is, in existing dispensers that hold the joint tape on ahook, the hook requires enough clearance to pass the joint tape over thehook. In existing dispensers that lock the joint tape to the holder, thedispenser extends down below the joint tape and is locked on both sidesof the joint tape.

In another example, as shown athttp://www.bontool.com/product1.asp?P=B15-191, a mud pan holder withhooks for removably attaching to a belt is shown. The mud pan holderincludes a hook for securing each end of the mud pan as well. The holderalso includes downwardly extending hooks for securing additionalaccessories.

In this example, the mud pan is held using four arms which secure themud pan but makes mobility and storage of the attachment difficult whennot in use and also adds to the weight of the attachment.

The mud pan holder of the prior art described above also poses problemsbecause of the placement of the joint tape dispenser in relation to themud pan holder. With the joint tape dispenser placed below the mud panholder, access to the joint tape dispenser is inhibited.

A further deficiency in the prior art with respect to utility beltsgeared toward drywall finishing is that there are no storage attachmentsfor taping knives that are capable of securing the same while providinga storage compartment that could be cleaned easily.

As can be seen, there is a need for a complete utility belt withattachments for use when finishing drywall that is compact, secure,comfortable, allows easy access to material and could be cleaned easily.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of theinvention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to presentsome embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

The present invention provides a complete utility belt with attachmentsfor use when finishing drywall that is compact, secure, comfortable,allows easy access to material and could be cleaned easily.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a utility beltcomprising a waist-belt and a first holder having a front portion, abottom portion, and a back portion, the back portion operably coupled tothe waist-belt such that the bottom portion extends away from thewaist-belt and the front portion is positioned a first distance awayfrom the waist-belt.

In one aspect, the first holder front and back portions extend upward,and the bottom portion extends from and between lower ends of the frontand back portions. The utility belt also includes a first accessorysized and shaped substantially similar to the first holder bottomportion such that the first accessory is frictionally secured within thefirst holder.

In another aspect, the utility belt also includes a second holder havinga pair of outer flanges and an inner flange therebetween, the inner andouter flanges formed integral with each other, the outer flangesoperably coupled to the waist-belt, the inner flange positioned a seconddistance away from the waist-belt to form an opening. The second holderis positioned adjacent to the first holder. The utility belt alsoincludes a first accessory, the first accessory having a first fastenerextending therefrom, the first fastener sized and shaped substantiallysimilar to the second holder inner flange such that the first fasteneris secured within the second holder while the first accessory is securedwithin first holder. The opening of the second holder inner flangeextends upward and the first accessory first fastener extends downward.

In yet another aspect, the utility belt further includes a shoulderstrap operably coupled to the waist-belt.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a utility beltcomprising a waist-belt. The utility belt also includes a first holderoperably coupled to the waist-belt, the first holder comprising a backportion, a top portion and a holding rod, the top portion having a firstaperture, the holding rod coupled to and extending from the back portionsubstantially parallel to the top portion and having a second apertureextending therethrough, the second aperture spaced apart from andsubstantially aligned with the first aperture. Also included is alocking rod having a first end and an opposing second end, the lockingrod having a length greater than a distance between the first and secondapertures, and sized such that the locking rod first end is extendedthrough the first and second apertures and frictionally securedtherewithin.

In one aspect, the second aperture is a loop coupled to the holding rod.

In another aspect, the locking rod second end comprises a couplingextension selected from a group comprising an extension extending fromthe locking rod second at a right angle and a loop.

In yet another aspect, the utility belt further includes a shoulderstrap operably coupled to the waist-belt.

In another aspect, the holding rod is substantially cylindrical.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a utility beltcomprising a waist-belt and a first holder operably coupled to thewaist-belt, the first holder having a base and at least one pocketcoupled thereto. The base comprises a plurality of layers, each layerconstructed of a material selected from a group comprising PVC, plasticfoam and fabric.

In one aspect, the at least one pocket is coupled to the base by meansselected from a group comprising fasteners, adhesive and stitching.

In another aspect, the first holder is removable from the waist-belt.

In yet another aspect, the at least one pocket is formed with aninterior portion and an overlapping exterior portion.

In a final aspect, the pocket interior portion is constructed of PVC.

In summary, the present invention provides a first holder capable ofsecurely holding a mud pan by means of one or more arms; a second holdercapable of securing a mud pan to a waist-belt via an opening for the mudpan to latch onto; a third holder is capable of holding a roll of jointtape by means of a tape holding rod and a locking rod; and a fourthholder is capable of holding taping knives in one or more pockets linedwith PVC. The holders are more secure and compact than existing deviceswhich allow greater mobility, less weight, easier storage, and lowermanufacturing costs.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent andimportant features of the present invention so that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood andso that the present contribution to the art can be more fullyappreciated.

Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter whichform the subject of the claims of the invention. It should beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and thedisclosed specific methods and structures may be readily utilized as abasis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out thesame purposes of the present invention. It should be realized by thoseskilled in the art that such equivalent structures do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a utility belt the presentinvention in a disengaged state showing first, second third and fourthholder attachments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of another embodiment of a utility belt of thepresent invention in a ready to engage state showing first, third andfourth holder attachments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the first and second holders of the presentinvention, and a perspective view of a first accessory, e.g., a mud pan,disengaged from each other.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the first holder of FIG. 3 and awaist-belt of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is rear perspective view of the accessory and the second holdershown in FIG. 3, in a disengaged state.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a third holder of the presentinvention and a second accessory, e.g., roll of tape, in a disengagedstate.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a thirdholder of the present invention in an engaged state.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a fourth holder of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the fourth holder of FIG. 8.

Unless stated otherwise, the features shown in the figures are not drawnto scale, but are shown for illustrative purposes only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments are described herein to provide a detaileddescription of the present disclosure. Variations of these embodimentswill be apparent to those of skill in the art. Moreover, certainterminology is used in the following description for convenience onlyand is not limiting. For example, the words “top” and “bottom” designatedirections in the drawings to which reference is made. The word “a” isdefined to mean “at least one.” The terminology includes the words abovespecifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similarimport.

Referring to the figures, the present invention provides a utility beltcomprising a waist-belt 100 and one or more holder attachments 200, 208,300, 400. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the waist-belt 100 may be coupledwith one or more shoulder straps 102 to provide comfort. The waist-belt100 and the shoulder straps 102 are formed primarily of a tough materialcapable of resisting wear and tear such as leather, synthetic leather orhigh denier fabric. Other materials could be combined with leather,synthetic leather or high denier fabric such as high-grade fabrics,plastics and composites to provide additional durability through methodsknown in the prior art such as by molding, using adhesives and/orstitching. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the waist-belt 100 is formedwith multiple layers with at least the outer layers being capable offorming permanent apertures 110 for fasteners to be secured thereto. Inthis embodiment, an outer layer 102 is constructed of 1680 denier nylonor polyester, a first middle layer 102 a is PVC, a second middle layer104 is constructed of plastic foam and an inner layer 106 is constructedof 1680 denier nylon or polyester. The inner and outer layers 106, 102enclose the middle layers 102 a, 104 and are stitched together. Theapertures 110 are aligned and extend though the outer layer 102 and atleast partially through the first middle layer 102 a.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first holder 200 is substantially U-shaped andis formed by a bottom portion 204 extending substantially horizontal anda front portion 202 and back portion 206 extending at an angle greaterthan 90 degrees from each end of the bottom portion 204. The bottomportion 204 includes a non-slip surface material such as rubber orsilicon so that an accessory 210 could be secured thereto withoutslipping. A mud pan 210 can be placed in the space between the threeportions. The first holder 200 is configured to hold a standard mud panwhich is normally formed with angled walls for the user to easily handlethe mud with a taping knife. So, the angle at which the front and backportion 202, 206 extend from the bottom portion 204 could vary dependingon the shape of the accessory which is to be held within the firstholder 200. For example, the accessory 210 could be for holding screwsor nails, in which case angled walls would be unnecessary.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each portion 202, 204, 206 of the firstholder 200 is formed integral to each other and could be constructed ofmetal, plastic or other rigid materials known in the prior art. However,the first holder 200 could be constructed of multiple pieces joinedtogether by soldering or other means.

Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in this embodiment, the front portion202 and back portion 206 are tapered at its respective top ends toeliminate any sharp edges, reduce manufacturing costs by conservingmaterials and also for aesthetic purposes. However, other shapes couldbe utilized.

The first holder 200 is secured to the waist-belt 100 as shown, forexample, in FIGS. 3 and 4. Specifically, the first holder back portion206 includes holes 210 which align with the apertures 110 of thewaist-belt 100. Fasteners 220, screws for example, are extended throughand secured within respective apertures 110 and holes 210. In theexemplar embodiment, there are two first holders 200 to provideadditional stability. However, more or less holders could be provideddepending on the accessory to be held.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, in a second embodiment of the presentinvention, the waist-belt 100 also includes a second holder 208. Thesecond holder 208 includes a pair of outer flanges 220, 222 and an innerflange 224 therebetween. The inner and outer flanges 220, 222, 224 areformed integral with each other. The outer flanges 220, 222 includeapertures for fasteners to extend therethrough for attachment to thewaist-belt 100, in the same fashion as described above with respect tothe first holder 200. The inner flange 224 is formed such that it isoffset from the outer flanges 220, 222 and positioned a distance awayfrom the waist-belt 100 to form an opening 226. In this embodiment, thesecond holder 208 is positioned adjacent to the first holder 200 orbetween two first holders 200, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Referring to FIG. 5, a first accessory or mud pan 210 includes afastener 212 extending from a rear portion thereof in the form of ahook. The fastener 212 sized and shaped substantially similar to theopening 226 formed between second holder inner flange 224 and thewaist-belt 100 such that the fastener 212 is secured within the opening226 and the mud pan 210 is held secure without side-to-side movement,while being easily removable as well. In this embodiment, the firstaccessory or mud pan 210 could be secured to the waist-belt 100 by thesecond holder 208 only, without the first holder 200. However, a usercould utilize both first and second holders 200, 208 to further securethe mud pan 210 to the waist-belt 100.

In other embodiments, the second holder 208 and fastener 212 could takeon other forms such as hook and loop fasteners (Velcro), magnets, orother means of removably coupling the mud pan 210 to the waist-belt 100.In one example, the fastener 212 could be secured directly to an upperend of the waist-belt 100 such that the waist-belt 100 is overlapped byopposing sides of the fastener 212.

Referring to FIG. 6, in a third embodiment of the present invention, athird holder 300 is shown. The third holder 300 could be used to hold aroll of tape 320 or other accessories of similar shapes. The thirdholder 300 could be coupled to the waist-belt 100 and generally includesa back portion 302, a top portion 304, a holding rod 306 and a lockingrod 312.

Still referring to FIG. 6, the back portion 302 and top portion 304 arejoined at an edge at a 90-degree angle and are formed integral to eachother. In this embodiment, the back and top portions 302, 304 areconstructed of sheet metal, preferably aluminum, and formed through abending process. However, the back and top portions 302, 304 could beformed by combining separate pieces of metal by welding or other knowntechniques. The back and top portions 302, 304 could also be constructedof plastics and injection molded.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the top portion 304 includes an aperture 308extending therethough and substantially perpendicular to thereto. Inthis embodiment, the aperture is substantially rectangular incross-section but could take on other shapes and sizes.

As seen in FIG. 6, the holding rod 306 is coupled to and extends from asurface of the back portion 302 substantially parallel to the topportion 304 and at a distance away from the top portion 304. Here, theholding rod 306 is metal and coupled to the back portion 302 by weldingbut other methods could be used for coupling. For example, the holdingrod 306 and back portion 302 could be constructed such that the twocomponents are snap fit with each other. Also, the two components couldbe formed with each other by injection molding in the event they areplastic. In this embodiment, the holding rod 306 is cylindrical toaccommodate accessories of such shapes such as rolls of tape. However,the holding rod 306 could take on other shapes and sizes withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, theholding rod 306 could include a spring-mechanism which allows theholding rod 306 to expand and contract, thereby making it possible tosecure different accessories having a range of diameters. As shown inFIG. 6, a top portion of the holding rod 306 includes an extensionhaving an aperture 310 extending parallel to a length of the backportion 302. The holding rod aperture 310 and the top portion aperture308 are sized and shaped substantially similar to and substantiallyaligned with each other.

Referring to FIG. 6, the locking rod 312 is removably secured within theapertures 308, 310 of the top portion 304 and holding rod 306,respectively. In this embodiment, the locking rod 312 is flat sheetmetal, a cross-section of which is sized and shaped substantiallysimilar to the apertures 308, 310, and extends at least the length ofthe back portion 302 when engaged. Thus, the locking rod 312 is securedto the top portion 304 and the holding rod 306. However, the locking rodmay take on other sizes and shapes so long as it is compatible with theapertures 308, 310. A distal end of locking rod 312 includes a handle322. In this embodiment, the handle 322 is a loop. In anotherembodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the handle 322 could be formed by a bendat the distal end of the locking rod 312.

Referring to FIG. 7, the third holder includes an attachment means 314on the top portion 304 for connecting to a loop or hook, e.g. lobsterclasp, on the waist-belt 100. In this embodiment, the attachment means314 is a metal loop formed integrally, i.e., adhered or welded, to thetop portion 304. In another embodiment, the attachment means 314 couldbe a loop on the back portion 302 and the waist-belt 100 itself could bethreaded through the attachment means 314. In another embodiment, theattachment means 314 could be a hook that connects to a loop on thewaist-belt 100 or hooked directly onto the top of the waist-belt 100. Inyet another embodiment, the user could attach the third holder 300directly to the waist-belt 100 by positioning the waist-belt 100 betweenthe top portion 304 and holding rod 306 and securing the waist-belt 100between the back portion 302 and the locking rod 312.

In operation, a roll of joint tape 320 is placed on the holding rod 306.The locking rod 312 extends through the top portion aperture 308 andpartially or completely through the holding rod aperture 310 to securethe tape 320 between the locking rod 312 and back portion 302. In thismanner, the accessory 320 is available at arm's reach and is easilyaccessible.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a fourth holder 400 of the present inventionis shown. The fourth holder 400 includes a base 402 coupled to one ormore pockets 410 by means of stitching, rivets, fusing, or other means.In the exemplary embodiment, the base 402 is comprised of a PVC layer406 and a foam layer 408 in between two fabric layers 404. The foamlayer 408 providers the user comfort while the PVC layer 406 providesstructure. The fabric layer 404 protects the foam layer 408 and holds ittogether with the PVC layer 406. In other embodiments, more or fewerlayers can be used and other material can be used. As seen in thefigures, an upper portion of the base 402 is wider than a lower portionof the base 402 to simulate a human leg to promote comfort for the user.

As shown in FIG. 9, the pockets 410 comprise an interior portion 412 andan exterior portion 414. The interior portion 412 is made of PVC and theexterior portion 414 is made of fabric, preferably with 1680 denierfabric or the like.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the interior portion 412 isfixed to the base 402 by one or more fasteners 420 which extend throughthe top fabric layer 404 and at least partially through the PVC layer406. Each fastener 420 is secured flush to the interior portion 412,preferably 2 mm below an interior portion surface, so an accessorystored within, e.g., taping knife, does not make contact with thefastener. In this embodiment, the interior portion 412 is shaped suchthat an upper portion thereof is wider than a lower portion thereof sothat a user could have easy access to and also easily store accessories,including at times without looking down to access and store the same.However, the interior portion 412 could take on other shapes and sizesas well. The exterior portion 414 is sized and shaped for receiving theinterior portion 412 without undue stress and is sewn onto the base 402.Taping knives can be placed in the pockets 410. The PVC-lined interiorportion 412 protects the rest of the holder 400 from any mud which maybe on the taping knives. This is especially important because the mudwhen solidified could be hard to remove without using liquid cleaningsolutions.

In another embodiment, the interior portion 412 can be removable tofacilitate cleaning as well. That is, the interior portion need not bepermanently fixed to the base 402. For example, the exterior portion 414forms a permanent pocket and the interior portion 412 is placed withinthe exterior portion 414 when in use and removed when not in use.

The utility belt of the present invention could also be provided withvarious attachments means and further amenities know in the prior art.For example, the waist-belt 100 and the shoulder strap 102 could beprovided with pockets, lobster clasps (metal and/or plastic), metalloops, metal D-rings and the like, some of which are shown in thedrawings.

Furthermore, each holder described herein is not limited to thefunctions described. Each holder could accommodate other accessories notdescribed herein, some examples of which have been described.

Although this invention has been described in its exemplary forms with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure has been made only by way of example and numerous changes inthe details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts maybe employed without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A utility belt comprising: a waist-belt; and afirst holder having a front portion, a bottom portion, and a backportion, the back portion operably coupled to the waist-belt such thatthe bottom portion extends away from the waist-belt and the frontportion is positioned a first distance away from the waist-belt.
 2. Theutility belt of claim 1, wherein the first holder front and backportions extend upward, and the bottom portion extends from and betweenlower ends of the front and back portions.
 3. The utility belt of claim2, further comprising a first accessory, the first accessory sized andshaped substantially similar to the first holder bottom portion suchthat the first accessory is frictionally secured within the firstholder.
 4. The utility belt of claim 1, further comprising a secondholder having a pair of outer flanges and an inner flange therebetween,the inner and outer flanges formed integral with each other, the outerflanges operably coupled to the waist-belt, the inner flange positioneda second distance away from the waist-belt to form an opening.
 5. Theutility belt of claim 3, wherein the second holder is positionedadjacent to the first holder.
 6. The utility belt of claim 5, furthercomprising a first accessory, the first accessory having a firstfastener extending therefrom, the first fastener sized and shapedsubstantially similar to the second holder inner flange such that thefirst fastener is secured within the second holder while the firstaccessory is secured within first holder.
 7. The utility belt of claim6, wherein the opening of the second holder inner flange extends upwardand the first accessory first fastener extends downward.
 8. The utilitybelt of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder strap operably coupled tothe waist-belt.
 9. A utility belt comprising: a waist-belt; a firstholder operably coupled to the waist-belt, the first holder comprising aback portion, a top portion and a holding rod, the top portion having afirst aperture, the holding rod coupled to and extending from the backportion substantially parallel to the top portion and having a secondaperture extending therethrough, the second aperture spaced apart fromand substantially aligned with the first aperture; and a locking rodhaving a first end and an opposing second end, the locking rod having alength greater than a distance between the first and second apertures,and sized such that the locking rod first end is extended through thefirst and second apertures and frictionally secured therewithin.
 10. Theutility belt of claim 9, wherein the second aperture is a loop coupledto the holding rod.
 11. The utility belt of claim 9, wherein the lockingrod second end comprises a coupling extension.
 12. The utility belt ofclaim 11, wherein the coupling extension is selected from a groupcomprising an extension extending from the locking rod second at a rightangle and a loop.
 13. The utility belt of claim 9, further comprising ashoulder strap operably coupled to the waist-belt.
 14. The utility beltof claim 9, wherein the holding rod is substantially cylindrical.
 15. Autility belt comprising: a waist-belt; and a first holder operablycoupled to the waist-belt, the first holder having a base and at leastone pocket coupled thereto.
 16. The utility belt of claim 15, whereinthe base comprises a plurality of layers, each layer constructed of amaterial selected from a group comprising PVC, plastic foam and fabric.17. The utility belt of claim 15, wherein the at least one pocket iscoupled to the base by means selected from a group comprising fasteners,adhesive and stitching.
 18. The utility belt of claim 15, wherein, thefirst holder is removable from the waist-belt.
 19. The utility belt ofclaim 15, wherein the at least one pocket is formed with an interiorportion and an overlapping exterior portion.
 20. The utility belt ofclaim 19, wherein the pocket interior portion is constructed of PVC.